How did you choose your profile photo?

It seems that some people try to look good (I know I did), some don't want to show their face, and some look kind of scary (no offence, I won't name names).

This is the first time I've really put a picture of myself out onto the Web. I'm wondering, how did you choose your picture? Were you concerned about who might see you? Did you care? I think this fits into the Just for Fun discussion category, but I really am interested.

Tags: photos, pictures, profile

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nancy Cavillones on April 24, 2007 at 3:25am

My photo is a self-portrait of myself midway through a 5 Boro bike ride in NYC, two years ago. I was in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, taking a break after riding down from Central Park in Manhattan, where the ride started. I think I look bad-ass. Also, I've just gotten back into biking after a one-year hiatus, so this picture represents my current weekend pursuit.

But speaking generally, a picture is so important on a social networking site. Many of us don't know each other in real life and all we have to go on is a picture and that person's words. If someone looks creepy in his/her picture, it scares me! I won't add someone as a friend if I'm freaked out by his/her picture. (There's a reason why Native Americans believe that cameras steal your soul...pictures reveal a lot more than you think!)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard on April 24, 2007 at 7:21am

I chose my photo because I thought it was the least expected picture of a teacher that I could find. That's me on my 1950 Ford tractor.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin Jarrett on April 24, 2007 at 7:29am

I was told I needed to provide a headshot after being awarded a Walden Faculty Excellence Grant to explore Second Life. I actually never wear a tie (LOL) but wanted to look as respectable as possible. I'm standing in the media center of the community school where I teach. I don't have any other pictures of me remotely worth using in a profile!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Clare Roberson on April 24, 2007 at 8:09am

This is one of two digital photos I have of myself on my PC in the office. The other is over four years old - hence the quality of this one not being so great - so I decided to opt for this one. I may change it when I get a more recent photo and like the idea of changing photos/avatars when you feel like it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brett Hinton on April 24, 2007 at 11:53am

I just put the most decent photo I had on there. Not that I could do much to make my mug look good anyway :)

In reality I think an avatar, photo etc can be a great way to make a visual connection to an individual. Our students can't upload their pictures into our VLE (Moodle), but we let them upload appropriate avatars to represent them or their interests. A picture can say 1000 words, in my case, however, is just says 4, "A very normal guy".

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alfonso Gonzalez on April 24, 2007 at 12:23pm

I was having fun with the new iMacs and the photo studio program on it. I tell my students I'm an alien (yes, from another planet - I have fun messing with their minds) and I told them this picture made look smart so it was my favorite. :o)

Al G

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ginger Lewman on April 24, 2007 at 8:55pm

I was just trying to look really skinny! :) LOL!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chris Dillon on April 25, 2007 at 3:46am

My non-photo is a assignment I completed a few years ago while I was training. I training as a Primary teacher, and so we covered a range of curricula: the avatar is the result of taking a "crayon for a walk" to complete a 'blind' self-portrait for an Art project. I've used it on and off for several years, and it's my current 'face' on Flickr. As to whether I'd use a photo (and I do on occasions) coming out of a design & graphics background I've always been of opinion Brand is important, and I prefer my 'brand' to my photo...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nancy Cavillones on April 25, 2007 at 1:51pm

Amen to that, Ginger!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Dykstra on April 25, 2007 at 3:06pm

I picked my picture when I realized the Atlantic puffin is a gregarious community bird (they live in colonies) that's fairly clumsy, flies badly, and often crashes on landing. Somehow it just felt like me.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Davis on April 25, 2007 at 6:19pm

It is also the name of my favorite cereal!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Davis on April 25, 2007 at 6:25pm

I love all of the responses to my question. Thank you to everyone who has shared the story behind their picture.
I love that as people join this forum, their answers to my question keep popping up in my inbox. It shows that not only is classroom 2.0 a place to discuss issues about education, but it is also a place to get to know teachers around the world who share interests and passions and are willing to also share a personal story with a group of "strangers."

My picture is a "headshot" that my husband took of me for a journal that published an article that I wrote. They never actually used my picture, so I wanted to put it to use somewhere else. I think it is a particularly nice picture of me and I didn't want it to go to waste.